Stairways are Heaven
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Rippling Sea of Green

4/17/2013

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The #54 bus (I catch it across from the Balboa Park BART station as I do two other buses to points south from here) winds up through the Excelsior 'hood and stops at the Avalon/Athens stairway (99 steps). 

What a tail-waggin' delight to discover how the Athens Avalon Greenspace has been transformed: Tiers of golden poppies alongside the stairs. First pic is a "Then" pic from several years ago. Next four pics: April 2013. 

This hike was meant to check out this minipark's progress, a new McLaren Park entrance fountain, and then just random middle-ish trails until eventually meandering out to Mansell: no rush!

When able to tear myself away from the Greenspace, continued to the top of the stairway (at Valmar) and downhill a block to the foot of the Peru-to-Valmar stairway (pics 6, 7). 

At the top of this rustic delight (77 steps), continuing south a short distance took me to Burrows that runs E-W alongside the park. Here an area was fenced in with work ongoing so detoured east a few yards to the new flower fountain at the Gambier and Burrows entrance (eighth pic). Hadn't been to this part of the park in a while (ninth pic: row of low mosaic seats here). 

Behind me to the south beckoned sunny acres of forested and openspaced green rolling hills dotted with wildflowers, so off I went: sometimes minor trails not hiked in a while, other times hitting a main one.

Up-and-downed through exhilarating, wild, secluded forest trails and inviting openspaces (pics 10 through 14). As I paused atop one of the many unmarked dirt trails that wind through this breathtakingly gorgeous park, a refreshing breeze rippled the still-green tall grasses in a way that no mere photos could capture; ya had to be there… Do it!


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1. THEN: Athens Avalon steps from several years ago
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2. NOW: Athens Avalon Greenspace (4/2013)
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3. Athens Avalon Greenspace
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4. Athens Avalon Greenspace
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5. Athens Avalon Greenspace. Mount Davidson in distance.
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6. Peru up to Valmar steps
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7. Peru to Valmar stairway
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8. McLaren Park entrance at Burrows & Gambier
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9. Entrance to McLaren Park at Burrows & Gambier
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10. Bernal Heights from McLaren Park
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11. McLaren Park
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12. McLaren Park
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13. Midtrail Uphill
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14. Midpark Trailin'
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    I like meandering around on San Francisco's park trails and public stairways, sometimes taking photos, and enjoying nature and the outdoors.

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